1991 Corvette Convertable
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Joined: Aug 2012
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1991 Corvette Convertable
I started my vet today and it wasn't running write. Popping under the hood. Then shut down. Could not restart, battery was completed dead. Battery only 30 days old. I jumped it and it started and the same problem existed. Could not get any power to move vehicle. Help!!
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Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
Sounds like a dead alternator with a bad diode board and a dead battery.
Buy a cheapie volt meter at harbor freight and do some volts checking.
First, disconnect the negative battery post.
2. Then disconnect the battery lead on the alternator, and put the lead in a plastic bag and wrap it with electrical tape.
3. charge the battery, then leave it sit all night connected to the car.
4. next morning, take a battery volt meter reading with the hand held meter. don't touch the key.
If the battery still has 12.85 or so volts, it's good, and the car is good. the problem is the alternator.
If the volts are 10 volts or below, there is a problem in the wiring somewhere.
Do not expect your alternator to charge a dead battery.
GM cheaped out on the corvette alternator, and it can only keep a partly charged battery going.
So if 30 days ago, you ran your alternator to charge your old battery, you just bought a new alternator too.
So let us know
Buy a cheapie volt meter at harbor freight and do some volts checking.
First, disconnect the negative battery post.
2. Then disconnect the battery lead on the alternator, and put the lead in a plastic bag and wrap it with electrical tape.
3. charge the battery, then leave it sit all night connected to the car.
4. next morning, take a battery volt meter reading with the hand held meter. don't touch the key.
If the battery still has 12.85 or so volts, it's good, and the car is good. the problem is the alternator.
If the volts are 10 volts or below, there is a problem in the wiring somewhere.
Do not expect your alternator to charge a dead battery.
GM cheaped out on the corvette alternator, and it can only keep a partly charged battery going.
So if 30 days ago, you ran your alternator to charge your old battery, you just bought a new alternator too.
So let us know
Last edited by coupeguy2001; Aug 1, 2012 at 06:17 PM.
